Method of extracting gutta-percha.



i WE OFFER EULALIE C. LARSEN, OF SINGAPORE, INDIA, ADMINISTRATRIX OF AIME ARNAUD, DECEASED.

Mari-ion F 'ExTR cTaNe GUTTA-PERCHA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application file-l August 23,1905. Serial No. 276,48

- Tea/ll whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, EULALIE C. LARSEN, a citizen of France, and a resident of Singapore, Straits Settlements, India, am adminis-' tratrix of the estate of AIME ARNAUD, deceased, (late a citizen of France, and a resident of Singapore, Straits Settlements, India, as by reference to the duly-certified copy of letters of administration hereto annexed will more. fully appear,) who in his lifetime did invent certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Extracting, Gutta-Per'cha, of which the following is-a full, clear, and exact description.

The present mvention relates to a system or process of extracting gutta-percha contained in theraw state in leaves and buds of. the isonondra tree and other varieties of trees, vines, and creepers capable of yielding gum.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a system of treating the out the invention.

substances above mentioned in order to extract gutta-percha by 'a mechanical method without the use or without the extensive use of oil, salt, or other chemicals,

I will describe a preferred way of carrying The green or dry leaves are mechanically crushed by means of a pair of metallic cylinders rev'olvin in opposite directions and at unequal spee or by means of any other kind of mill capable of reducing the leaves and twigs to pulp. To this pulp is addedfrom fifteen to twenty per cent. of-cut-up gutta, according to the richness of the leaves under treatment; and to this mixture may be added, if desired, twenty er centiof caster-oil; but I. prefer to omit t 's ingredient. Themixture is then stirred and intimately combined.

After the mixture is treated in this manner it is transferred to an air-tight boiler and boiled under pressure at a temperature of from preferably 110 to 125 centigra'de during a time varyin from one to one and one-half hours, accor ing to the quality, age, and conditionof the leaves and buds under treatment. This completely amalgamates by heat all of the gutta contained'in the ulp with the other ingredients... When s ciently boiled, the pulp is-transferred to the mixing-rolls,

having cast-iron hollow cylinders heated to about 100 through the medium of a current. of steam. A thin s'treamof cold wateris allowed to fall on the contacting points of the mixing-rolls and draws all the organic matter away from the gutta thus'obtained. This cutting up and washing is continued until the gutta has attained the required de cc of purity. In case oil has been employe in the manufacture the operation is terminated by throwing the resulting material in a boiler with'water saturated with an alkaline salt and keeping it at about 100 forthe purpose of withdrawing the oil contained in the gutta and saponifying it; 'but the inventionis capable of being carried out without the use of thesalt.

It has been demonstrated in practice that gutta-percha prepared in this .way is of a superior quality andis pure and ready for use at the end of the operation furthermore, that it is free from all risks of oxidation.

, The addition of the cut-up gutta to the leaves under treatment assists in the coalescing of the rubber particles, said particles having considerable attraction foreach other, and for the gutta, thus increasing the yield from the leaves. V

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to'be secured by Letters Patent, isi 1. A process of treating leaves for the purpose of extracting gutta-percha, said process comprising mechanically crushing the leaves small pieces, and'boiling.

2 A process of extracting gutta-percha from isonondra leaves and buds, said rocess consisting in mechanically crushing t e raw material to reduce it to a pulp, adding from fifteen to twenty per cent. of gutta in small pieces, thoroughly mixing the composition,

oiling it at a temperature between 110 and 125 centigrade, and finally cutting up and washing the resultant compound by means of heated rollers and inthe presence of a'stream to reduce them to a pulp, adding gutta in' i oo 

